IN OUR BONES || EXPLICIT ||

Chapter 7

Oh memories,
Where'd you go?
You were all I've ever known.
How I miss yesterday.
And how I'd let it fade away?
Don't fade away.

- Memories, Panic! At the disco

The café was filled with loud laughters, and chattering teenagers. Although their high school had a school cafeteria, most of the pupils did not prefer food poisoning, so Carla's was the go-to place for lunchtime. It was a busy place during rush hours. So, just like fast food restaurants, one had to go up to the counter to order.

Maddy was completely engrossed in an article she was reading on a news site she found online. She was the only one in her uncanny group of friends to be an avid news follower.

Olivia was observing the cafeteria, glancing around and noticing all the customers. Her eyes jumped from one person to the other, finally stopping when she had discerned the last of them. Noah was fixing his hair, that had become unruly due to the football practice.

"Okay, I am ready to order." Olivia announced to Luke.

"So am I" Noah added.

Luke's feet were carelessly tapping periodically against the floor. He glanced at the clock, then opened his mouth to say something, Olivia beat him to it, "I want a double cheese hamburger, but please make sure there aren't any pickles in it-"

"Look, I am tired-" Luke started to speak, but was cut off.

"Ooo, I like pickles, make sure there are some on mine. But please tell them, no tomatoes. Hate 'em." Noah voiced .

Luke opened his mouth, and was once again interrupted by Olivia, "and a vanilla milkshake. But, please ask them to go easy on the syrup. Last time it was too sweet for my taste."

"Ew, who orders vanilla anything?" Noah chimed in, then turned to Luke "get me a chocolate. Would ya?" he said.

"What is wrong with vanilla? It's the best flavour. You can never get tired of it!" Olivia protested.

"You are so boring, hence why you have such dull habits." Noah teased.

Olivia's eyes widened and she gasped playfully.

"Look, guys. I was wondering, why-" Luke started again, but it seemed, today wasn't his lucky day, as he was disturbed yet again.

"I am so not boring." Olivia declared.

Suddenly there was loud scrapping of chair on the floor. They both turned towards Luke, who was standing over his pushed chair with an unnaturally red face.

"I am not ordering this time. I order every fucking time. I do everything for you guys. 'Oh! I think my wrist is sprained, would you do my homework Luke'?" He said in a high pitched voice, mimicking Olivia as he glanced at her.

She turned away embarrassed, and opened her mouth to say something, when Luke continued, "I am not done yet. Three months. Three whole fucking months, I regularly completed your homework, and never complained. Do you wanna know why? It's because that's who I am. I just can't fucking ignore anyone."

Then he turned to Noah, who opened his mouth to say something, when Luke spoke again "and you? 'Luke, there's a spider in my locker. Get it out, kill it, incinerate it, do something. Anything!' Sounds familiar?" He asked Noah.

"Those things have eight eyes, mate." Noah said sheepishly.

"It was a fucking carpenter ant." Luke exclaimed.